Sharks legend Pat Lambie expresses confidence that the Durban-based franchise is moving in the right direction under head coach JP Pietersen. He predicts a significant revival for the club if the union can cultivate a healthy team atmosphere and prioritize local talent from KwaZulu-Natal.
Pietersen's Experience and Support
Lambie, who spent most of his life in the Kings Park area, possesses deep knowledge of the cultural foundation required to restore the former greatness of the Sharks. His early memories are linked to running barefoot on outer fields after matches in Durban. His family was also involved in rugby: his grandfather, Nick Labuschagne, represented Natal and served as president of the Natal Rugby Union, and his father, Jan, played fullback for the province in the 1980s.
Lambie himself played 101 times in the starting lineup for the Sharks between 2009 and 2017, spending a significant part of his career alongside his former teammate Pietersen. The 35-year-old Lambie, who now works in real estate development on the KZN north coast, stated: 'I played five seasons with JP. I have immense respect for him and hope he has a long and successful career as the Sharks head coach.'
Vision for a New Era
Lambie believes that transitioning a former player into a leadership role is the best decision for the Sharks because he is introducing something new. He noted that JP, having been a Sharks player for many years, had the opportunity to play under outstanding coaches and alongside brilliant players, participating in both effective and ineffective teams, which allowed him to learn a great deal.
The former Springbok player with 56 caps, Lambie is convinced that a vibrant and cohesive team environment is an indispensable foundation for starting a successful new era at Kings Park. He expressed hope that JP will create a great culture where young athletes can develop and learn from more experienced colleagues. Lambie wishes to see a Sharks team that plays excitingly but also develops players capable of becoming the next group of South African internationals playing 30, 40, or 50 matches.
Prioritizing Local Talent
In Lambie's view, there is enough school talent in KZN to avoid recruiting players from other provinces. If these young athletes are integrated into the youth systems and placed under JP's guidance, he believes some of them will become well-known names in KZN and future South African players.
Lambie recalled that when he was a teenager and moved from SA Schools to the Sharks starting lineup, there were 13 or 14 active Springboks in the locker room. He emphasized that most of these players started at the Sharks or transferred there from other unions, subsequently becoming national team members. He believes this creates a huge difference because they are forever grateful to the Sharks for what the club did for them.
He would like the situation to develop exactly like this: if you want to play for the South African team, you come to the Sharks, where you will play quality rugby, and the club will help you realize your dream. An example of such a path is centre Andre Esterhuizen, who joined the Sharks academy immediately after finishing school in Clerksdorp and remains one of the union's proudest figures a decade later.
Importance of Local Graduates
Lambie also noted that JP himself was one of those players, arriving from Witbank into the youth system, and he could speak about his gratitude to the Sharks for helping him establish himself as a Springbok player. He insists on attracting players to the Sharks from an early age so they can improve their careers, and when they put on the jersey, they demonstrate complete dedication.
Local Durban residents have already achieved success in promoting local school graduates. Recent examples include Ethan Hooker and Zekhethelo Siyaya from Westville Boys' High, the Hendricks brothers from Glenwood (Jaden and Jordan), and former Hilton College captain Nick Hutton. Lambie concluded that the more high school students from KZN enter the youth system, then the Currie Cup, and further, the better. This is very attractive to fans as it reflects the unique Sharks culture, and it is much more beneficial to direct resources towards local talent.
Furthermore, Lambie highlighted the immense value of having a group of established, dedicated veterans who can inspire the next generation of academy graduates. He recalled his first idols at the Sharks: Henry Honiball, Andre Jobert, and Dick Moore, followed by Butch James, Gary Tahman, and Kabusa van der Westhuizen. Later there were Brent Russell, Trevor Halstead, and Craig Davidson. Lambie shared that he was incredibly lucky to play alongside stars whom he admired in school, such as John Smith, Rowan Pinaar, Stefan Terblanche, Johann Müller, and Jacques Botha. These men were true pillars of the Sharks, and the opportunity to sit in the locker room with childhood idols gave him a huge boost of motivation and inspiration.